For the last several months a cloud has hung over the future of the Las Vegas 7s. Reports have emerged that the tournament is set to be dropped from the Series beginning in the 2015-16. At first these reports were brushed off but as Patrick Johnston at The Province (who has been a leader on this subject and a must follow for every fan) has pointed out as time has gone on the doubts have continued to increase. As Johnston notes, players rate the stop as the worst on the Series. They don't like the hard and narrow surface and they don't like it being spread out over three days. Sponsors also have problems with the tournament being in Vegas.
With the positive attendance and it's presence in the coveted U.S. market you would think that sponsors could overlook the gambling issue if Vegas had a new stadium and with an upcoming vote from the Las Vegas City Council that could become a reality. That council is set to vote on December 17th whether to approve a revised term sheet for a $200 million stadium downtown that would be home to a Major League Soccer expansion team.
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That's where things get a bit tricky. MLS has a goal of being at 24 teams at the end of the decade and currently is up to 23 (20 active franchises and three planned expansion teams) leaving only one spot left. Vegas, Minnesota, San Antonio, and Sacramento are all vying for that franchise. Of those cities, Vegas has the least history with soccer and doesn't have an established team. Both San Antonio and Sacramento draw close to 10,000 fans and essentially max out their stadiums. Minnesota has had a team for over a decade in the NASL. Vegas also doesn't have as strong of a potential ownership group. That of course doesn't even factor in that Vegas is hella hot in the summer.
Circling back to rugby, the rumors have been that World Rugby was waiting to see if Vegas would get a new stadium to keep the event. They even just re-approved Sam Boyd Stadium for a few more years to see if it was possible. However, without a firm stadium plan in place there isn't a fix to some of Vegas's biggest issues. If this vote doesn't pass then it's a major strike against the tournament.
Further complicating the issue for the 2015-16 season is the fact that the World Cup bumps into the first part of the season and the Olympics tail on to the back of the season. Plans had been to expand the Series to 10 teams but with a shortened season something is going to have to give. The Gold Coast is going to have to move to another time and with the Olympics a priority teams won't want to risk player welfare by playing too many tournaments in only a few months span. It's quite possible it stays a nine events.
Additionally, World Rugby has been rumored to be announcing the stops on the 2015-16 Series for months but for unknown reasons has been delaying. Some of that may have to do with bids elsewhere but really it comes down to whether or not Vegas is staying. At this point it seems certain that Vancouver, Paris, and Singapore will be getting stops while at least Tokyo (because of Super Rugby) and Glasgow (because of poor attendance) being dropped with Vegas an ever increasing possibility.
It's easy to see why United World Sports would want the tournament in Vegas and it is well attended. Vegas is a draw for fans and it's a warm weather location in the winter. For rugby in America there isn't a bigger occasion. If the Series is dropped from Vegas there are serious questions regarding the future of the Las Vegas Invitational and UWS. The Vegas 7s is UWS's only profitable rugby tournament. If Vegas is pulled it could lead to a chain effect that hurts the overall game in America.
You have to wonder why World Rugby would want to pull out from the United States given that they are desperate to reach more American fans. It's possible that Vegas is pulled for only one season and then returns which would limit the damage but it's a risk. Maybe World Rugby thinks there are other ways to reach U.S. fans. The All Blacks match pulled in more fans than the Vegas 7s does all weekend and it's possible they will look to follow that model. Plus, they know that the U.S. might not qualify for the Olympics and if that happens a lot of the momentum for 7s in the U.S. will be lost.
In the end, the longer this saga drags on more questions will be asked regarding the future of the Vegas 7s and if the Las Vegas City Council rejects the stadium plan that may just be enough for World Rugby to finally commit to pulling the plug.